Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-29
DR.. KEWMAN's RECENT AMERICAN"
SERMON.

DR.. KEWMAN's RECENT AMERICAN
SERMON.
Rev J ?. Newman, D. d.. of Washing
ton--who not long since spent some months
on this coast-on Thanksgiving Day last
preached a sermon, which in many re-
spects struck boldly responsive chord in
American sentiment, and created demand
for its publication that has resulted in put
ting the sermon before the COUNTRY in
book form. The general demand for it,
the wide distribution it Is having, and the
comment it is exciting, strongly indicate the
spirit in which its uttcrances are received
and constitute sufficient present reference
to it. The points made and doctrines adj
vanced 10y the distinguished preacher
which are dividing public opinion in some
respects and securing Its approval in others
the general reader is entitled to have
presented in the popular form Of breyity.
These points we summarize, presenting
every salient feature of the discourse, to
stand upon It's own merits, and reserying
comment for the present and greater con-
venieuce of space. From statement of our
national progress and wealth, that is not
without statistical interest, he proceeded to
inquire into "the divine purpose Of plac
ing us among the nations of the earth, and
the mission of the Republic.
The first proposition in his major pre-
mise is, that within a zone Of power b, tween
the 30th and 60Ih parallels Of north lati-
tude have existed the great nations of the
past, in il exist all of the present, and
within it is our home. Why designate
this as a charmed circle, since north Of it
have existed nations of wealth, luxury and
influence and south of it are Egypt
Arabia, India and other nations that have
lived in splendor? Because, he replies,
within that belt have existed the natious
that have giyen direction to the thought of
mankind, have created the philosophy Tor
the race, given Jurisprudence, history and
oratory, poe;ry, art science, and govern
meut to mankind
Oar location then, is in accord with
foretoid destiny, is Tor purpose, and the
mission OF the nation is, therefore, for the
accomplishment Of purpose Of Proyi-
dence for the elevation of mankind to Il
better future" We started where other
nations left of, and our torefathers stood
upon the very summit OF humanity. Ard
in proof of these assertions he pointed to
the genesis of the nation az compared to
that OF the Assyrians, who sp-aag from !.
band Of hunters; Egypt, FROM the deseised
race; Rome, from freetooters; England,
from painted barbariaus Out of body
containing such iniellects as those If
Franklin Madison, Washington and
Hamilton, who voiced he brotherhood Of
the race, declared the ultimate OF human
rights exhausted the right OF revolution,
came our constitutional form of free
government. Under TIE ideas Of that era
we have taken in ana grown out of the
Puritans of New England, the Dutch of
New York, and the English of Virginia.
This brought the eminent preacher to
his minor premise, that our population be-
ing cosmopolitan, began with the best
blood of the old world-sprang from men
who came not as paupers, nor slu-gards,
but as laborers in the world Of progress, fit
to be Of the composition of our constitu-
tional society. But there has been a change
in the character of the foreign current
drifting to our shores. The great oppor-
tunity, he asserted, has been abused, and
is to-day the largest source of our national
danger.
Abruptly-with startling suddenness-
the preacher here reached the conclusion
of his syllogism:
We are now bound TO cali halt along the line
OF Immigration 70 say 10 those peoples of the
Ola World that this is not new Africa nor a
new ireland, nor new Germany, nor a new
Italy, nor new England. nor new Russia:
that this is not a brothel FOR the Mormon,
fetch for the negro, country for the ticket-of-
leave man not plsce for the criminals and
paupers of Europe; but this country is for rnan
man fn his intelligence, man in his morality,
man in his love of liberty; man. whosoeyer he
is, wheresoeyer he cometh.
He would hare us, if not close the gates.
place them a.,ar, declare that this country is
for Americans-that is, typical Americans
He would have the nation by its policy
proclaim to the world that he is an Amer
lean, whether native or foreign born, who
accepts seven great ideas which shall diff
ferentiate him from all other peoples
Could he call the roll, he believed he
would find as many intelligent foreigners
who came here, not for selfshness, but fer
liberty and for Americas sake, who would
be in accord with the sentiment Of his de-
claration that America is for the typical
American.
After paying high tribute to the fo--
eign element that becomes American by
assimalation-th typical American, with